South Iowa News

U.S. Representatives Zach Nunn and Don Davis have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at bolstering flood recovery efforts for rural communities, particularly focusing on Iowa farmers. The proposed legislation, known as the Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and Restoration Act, seeks to enhance flood protection and recovery initiatives during natural disasters.

Rep. Nunn emphasized the critical role of Iowa's farmers in the nation's food and fuel supply chain. "Iowa’s farmers are the backbone of our nation’s food and fuel supply, and when disaster strikes, they’re often the first to feel the impact," he stated. He further explained that floods and other natural disasters significantly affect local communities, underscoring the need for resources to restore land and rebuild livelihoods.

The past two decades have seen flooding and storms account for one-third of all crop losses. In 2019 alone, Midwestern farmers faced $6 billion in lost crop sales due to excessive rain. The 2020 Derecho resulted in over $490 million in crop losses for Iowa farmers. Current federal assistance programs like the Emergency Watershed Protection Program only permit restoration of land to its pre-disaster state, even if it was already degraded before the disaster.

Rep. Davis highlighted similar challenges faced by farmers in eastern North Carolina: "Farmers and rural communities in eastern North Carolina know the devastating impact of flooding all too well." He noted that the new act empowers the Natural Resources Conservation Service to improve flood protection beyond pre-disaster levels after catastrophic events.

The legislation aims to provide tools for restoring land above pre-disaster conditions, thereby enhancing flood protection measures that could prevent disruptions in food and fuel supplies nationwide.

For more details on this legislative proposal, interested parties can access the text of the bill online.